“This is so cool!” She whirled, showing off the skirt she had envisioned. “I can do this with anything?”
“Nearly. Natural fibers are the easiest, like cotton and silk.”
“No more dry cleaning bills! Yippee!” She spun and laughed again. When she teetered, Diego leaped, catching her out of her dizzy spin. She pressed into him naturally while his arms cradled her closely.
She felt so good in his arms. Like she was supposed to be there. He kissed her simply because he had to, tilting her chin to brush her lips.
“And here I thought you just had a thing for black denim and leather,” she teased him. Her eyes were dancing with mischief when he released her lips.
“Actually, I do. I would have to say I am a little spoiled.” He nodded toward the bed. “I like my comforts.” She blushed when her gaze fell to the satin sheets of his king-sized bed. That was definitely comfortable.
“You know, I just realized. Where’s your coffin?”
“My what?” he asked, laughing.
“Don’t you have a coffin somewhere?”
He laughed harder when she peeked around his arms. “No. I do not have a coffin.”
“Vampires always have a coffin,” she stated.
“Not this one. You have a lot of experience with vampire lifestyles?” he asked, his hands drifting to lock behind her back. He knew she was only teasing, but just the thought of her with another sent his blood coursing hotly.
“Nothing up to date, apparently.” She sniffed. “So where are we, then?”
His grin stretched. “You are in my home. Above us is a standard cabin with human amenities. We are roughly thirty feet below ground.”
“So you don’t have to sleep in a coffin?” She pressed her cheek to his chest. Her tone grew curious, serious. She was bravely trying to work her way into his world. Love stole into his heart again.
“No,
cara
. And neither do you. However, if it is necessary, we can take refuge in the earth.”
She shivered. “I don’t like worms. And did I mention I absolutely detest spiders?”
He chuckled, hugging her close. “Do not worry,
cara
. You should not have to face that this evening.” He dropped another kiss to her cheek. “Come with me.”
He twined delicate fingers through his, leading her with a tender hold. He opened the doorway to the outside stairs, waving a hand through the air.
“What was that?” She neared on a step behind him.
“An alarm. One of those things you can never forget. You are vulnerable during the day.”
“Diego, I will never remember all of this,” she said, tugging on her bottom lip. Her steps following him were hesitant. “I don’t think I can do this.”
He twisted to cup her chin. “
Cara
. I do not expect you to. I have had centuries to learn. I will protect you.” Turmoil was found easily in her thoughts. Fear, uncertainty. He stroked a thumb to her soft skin. His heart pinched when he discovered her next worry.
He purposely cradled her lovely face in his palms, bringing her gaze to meet his. “
Cara
, you could never be a failure either. You are young of years and young in this life. If you choose, I give you myself. Completely. I swore myself to you. No other. And I could never want for another either. Why would I when I have perfection?”
Tears glistened in her eyes. “Diego.” Her lips trembled and he kissed them, then he kissed each lid, sipping at tears.
“Give yourself a chance. I was terrified when the change took my life. I had no guidance. I learned even though I was injured many, many times for my ignorance. Brakka was only a few days changed himself when he attacked me. Give yourself into my keeping for eternity.”
Lashes covered her eyes, and a melancholy weight bore down on him.
“I can promise you tonight, Diego. I just don’t know if I can do this.” Her tone changed, an insecure, frightened whisper. “I don’t know if I can do what I did to another person.”
Revulsion poured from her, and he caged her into his embrace. “I understand,
cara
.” He released her slowly, then began to walk back up the stairs, Titania only a pace behind him.
He found the locking mechanism, ordering the command to remove the ward before releasing the dead bolt. It snapped out of place and the door swung open, exposing the hallway. He scanned quickly for any signs of intrusion and found nothing had disturbed the house during the day. There were protections throughout the house and beyond. Diego had learned well over the years to keep his senses alert.
The air was clear and crisp when they stepped out to the porch. “Take a deep breath and hold it.” She did and he felt her amazement, her curiosity beginning to take over.
“Wow!” she gasped. “There is so much out here. And it smells so fresh. No fake pine here.”
“None. What else do you find?”
Her eyes drifted closed. “There’re flowers, and deer.” She blinked abruptly. “How did I know that?”
“You scented the animal and deduced it to be deer. If you listen, you can hear even more. Everything will be brighter, smells will be more defined, and all of your senses are more acute now. You can learn to use that to your advantage.”
“Is that why I can see so well? It’s like it’s not even nighttime, everything is so sharp, like a full moon’s light, only it’s not even up yet.”
“It is.” He clasped her hand, drawing her to his side as he strode down the steps.
“Is that also why I know you need to, um, feed?”
“Yes,
cara
. You feel it in me as I do in you. There are towns in three directions from here.”
“Then shouldn’t you go?” She glanced up at him, but swiftly dropped her gaze to hide beneath her lashes.
“I will not leave you unprotected. One night is unimportant.”
She stopped in her tracks. “That is not true! Do not try lying to me. I know you need to eat.”
“And you will come with me?” He phrased it as a dare. One step closer to her accepting. He did not want her to face the dawn. He did not want only one night, or even two. He wanted eternity.
She tilted her chin, an action he had seen many times. “There you go again, not taking care of yourself. Obviously you need me to make sure you do.” She swung her head, and her braid whipped around in exclamation. “All right. How do we get there? Fly?”
He smiled inside, hearing her try to be brave, but avoided letting it show on his expression. Diego knew well that this kitten had claws. “Harley.”
Her eyebrows popped up. “Who is Harley?”
He couldn’t restrain it after all and began to laugh gently. “Not a who.” Curling her under his arm, they walked around the side of the house to an enclosed garage. He unlocked the door and slipped inside, then pulled the protective cover from his bike. He half-folded it to wait on a side shelf.
“Let me introduce you. This is Harley.”
“A bike?” she squeaked.
“One of several I have owned.”
He saw her search the entire garage. “Can’t we take the car?”
He began to reach for the side door. “You are right. We should fly.”
“No!” She swallowed. “All right. Harley it is.”
He opened the automatic door and pushed the bike out. “Come on, honey. Your bad boy wants to play.”
“Just what the hell have I gotten into this time,” she muttered.
Titania asked herself that same question every few seconds for what felt like hours, but she knew it couldn’t have been more than twenty minutes as Diego drove them to town.
The bike was as intimidating as he was. She’d never been on one, and she held on for dear life. The litany of the question kept her from being too frightened of moving so fast with asphalt inches from her feet.
“Relax, cara. I would not allow anything to happen. I would smite even an insect for daring to threaten you.”
She frowned at his back.
“
Stop it! Now you’re just making fun of me.”
Rich laughter flooded her thoughts, and she pictured sticking her tongue out at him. She felt that unrestrained laughter deepen beneath her clutched grasp and smiled, shaking her head at him. She snuggled herself closer to the breadth of his body.
“That is better
,
cara
.
We will be there soon.”
“Where are we going?”
“There are several nightclubs in town. It will be busy enough for what we need.”
She refrained from saying anything about that. There was no way she’d be able to think about it and not start screaming.
The night wind gripped at her clothes, the edge of her skirt riding high in the wind.
Should’ve worn jeans
. She blinked and found the skirt gone, replaced by her favorite style of jeans. She pressed her cheek into the leather of his coat.
“
Thank you.”
“You are very welcome. I told you, I would provide for you.”
She closed her eyes and let the rumble of the bike soothe her instead of being rattled by it. She believed he would protect her, would provide for her. But she wasn’t sure she could make it as a vampire. Or was it vampiress? Could she suck on a strange person’s neck? The question gave her chills, and not the good kind.
She pressed her forehead into his back, rocking from side to side. What was she going to do? Her tour was cancelled, which meant the band had been split and the crew sent home. Houston would make sure everyone was paid. She needed to call home and let her parents know there had been a sudden cancellation.
She snapped up. “Oh no!” she cried.
“What is it,
cara
?”
Diego’s body tensed as his head lifted from his driving, searching above and around them.
“I just realized, I have absolutely no idea what I’m going to tell my parents. Mom is going to go insane with worry. They follow the headlines of my concerts religiously. They have to know something has happened by now.”
She held tighter to his frame, needing his comforting presence.
“It is likely,”
he replied
.
“I can’t let them worry. What time is it? I have to call them.”
“I imagine close to midnight.”
Tani groaned.
“
I’ll call tomorrow, I guess. It’s too late now.”
“Where do your parents live?”
“Texas.”
“A Texas woman. I should have known,”
he teased her. She smiled, sensing his only desire was to lessen her worries. Her hands clutched once more, though not out of fear, and she sighed, pressed into his spine for the rest of the ride.
Entering into the clubbing district of town, the city streets were busy, crowds waiting to get in to various bars and dance clubs, the throb of music vibrating through open doorways to lure them in. Neon lights flashed with street lights, giving a spotlight effect. Different odors assaulted her as Diego coasted down the street to stop in front of one that appeared to be more than a drunken dive. The overpowering stench of humanity was unbelievable. Perfumes, sweat, alcohol. She could find each and every distinct smell.
Titania shook her head. “This will take some getting used to,” she mumbled.
Instantly, his hand cradled her jaw, a thumb moving with comforting ease over skin. “Thank you for trying.”
She covered his hand with hers. “I’ll be fine. Let’s get you taken care of.”
He supported her with a hand, and she slid from the bike to stand at his side. Her heart was racing, as though shocked into life. She hadn’t felt anything like it since leaving Diego’s hidden cabin. With a frightened jolt, she realized she could hear other hearts, other people breathing. Could find the scent of blood the closer she got to the front door.
She dragged her feet the closer they got, her vision blurring with fear. Diego leaned to talk to the doorman of a darkened entrance, softer music coming from inside, a distinct difference from the other doorways. He rubbed a soothing hand down her arm.
“It will be all right,
cara
.
”
She doubted it would ever be all right again. When she walked by the doorman, the heavy scent of blood assaulted her, rocked her equilibrium, and she slapped a hand over her mouth.
She felt her teeth drop! She implored Diego with her eyes, but he continued moving. Everywhere she turned, people were clinging to each other, swaying on the dance floor. Hearts were beating, blood was rushing. Hunger began to eat at her stomach. She crowded closer to him, unable to dissect the menagerie of impulses.
He swept her up, gathering her in his embrace. She almost crawled up his larger frame to escape the pressures. “Breathe,
cara
. It will pass.”
“Every time you say that, something horrendous happens.” But she burrowed gratefully into his arms regardless. Nothing could hurt her there. Nothing of this new, terrifying life could reach her when she was in his arms. “I can’t do this,” she whimpered.
“I am not asking you to. Just dance with me,
cara
. You promised me tonight.”
“I know.” He tucked her closer, apparently in no hurry to do more, and she began to relax. The motions were easy, the song known, the actions natural. Feeling safer, tension seeped from every muscle. She listened around her absently, the muted words of whispered conversations, soft laughter, gentle persuasion. Gradually, the burn in her stomach receded to a manageable ache. Even the constant roar of pulsating blood became controllable, a distant hum. The hunger was there, but she could think now.
“It will become easier to manage with time.”
The warmth of his lips caressed her ear.
“Diego,” she moaned, leaning to find his gaze. “I am trying, but this is so crazy.”
He touched his mouth to hers, and desire sparked. “I love you more for even trying,
cara
. I know you are scared.” His touch was warm, his mouth too sinful. She reached up and kissed him in return.
She swayed in tandem as he moved them around the dance floor. She noticed his focus was constantly moving, investigating the environment. She slipped into his thoughts and found what he was doing. Marking prey and checking for threats.
She tapped his shoulder. “I don’t want to sound petty, and I know I don’t own you, but could you not go to any women?”
“Feeling proprietary?” His mouth twitched, as though fighting to not smile.
“Unbelievably, yes. I think I could even be jealous about this.” It was a rather irksome realization at that.
Diego sat her at a table in the corner in deep shadows. “Do not worry, honey. I have all the woman I want.”
Titania watched in curious silence as he approached first one man and then another, shaking hands, smiling, laughing, talking to them quietly in the shadows. And when it appeared their heads were merely close to listen to each other, she knew otherwise. The deceptive picture was very believable to any who wouldn’t see the difference of the illusion.
Could she do that? She shuddered at her own question. She knew she couldn’t. There was no way she could do this. She could not drink blood from an absolute stranger. It was like blindly kissing someone. She couldn’t do that either.
“Could you from someone you love?”
She heard him like a velvet caress in her mind.
She ducked her head, sure the heat on her cheeks wasn’t imagined.
“
We already know that. You weren’t even going to suggest it. I can’t seem to help myself around you.”
“And that is bad?”
The vibration of his light, teasing laughter filled her mind and her body. She rolled her eyes at him. She was aware he knew it too.
“Titania Alcott! I don’t believe it.” Her head snapped up at the suddenness of the intrusion, finding two men looking at her, standing almost over her at the table. “We heard you had shut down for an illness. You look absolutely fantastic.” Both faced her with worshipful smiles.
“I have been sick,” she said, unable to escape. They were blocking the table. She felt the change in the air, something dangerous, predatory. Both men looked over their shoulders warily.
“Would you dance? If you are well enough?” one asked hopefully, his heart in his gaze when he faced her. She flipped her braid over a shoulder to move minutely away from them, and both men moved closer.
Without warning, Diego was there, his hand on her shoulder. “I am sorry. She cannot. She has been very ill.” A flash of white teeth broke the plains of his blank expression. “I am sure you understand.”
They both took a quick step back, stunned to find him there when he hadn’t been a heartbeat before. “Uh, yeah. Sorry.”
“Yeah. Didn’t mean to bother you.” They slunk away without even asking for an autograph. She sighed in relief, which turned to frustration.
“Diego, they were fans.”
“With rot in their brains.” He sat in front of her, his arm possessively wrapped around her waist, blocking her from view with his larger frame. “They both wanted to see you with your hair loose.”
She punched his arm. “So do you,” she accused.
“As is my right. You are my woman.”
“Diego, I can’t ignore everything I’ve done for the last six years.”
“Will it matter in six hours, honey?” His tone was even, but the slice was deep. “Sunrise is at six forty-two.”
She leaned back, the urge to strangle him growing. “You did that on purpose!”
“What?” He tilted his head, as though at a total loss to her meaning.
“Don’t play innocent with me. We both know I can’t do this. Just the thought of what you did gives me the shakes. Do not turn my choice back around on me.”
“All I did was remind you. You cannot feed, but then again, if you do not greet the sunrise, if you sleep with me for one more day, you can call your parents. Think of some way to alleviate their fears.”
A slow exhale hissed through her teeth. “I need to do that at least.” She had absolutely no idea what she would tell them, how she could explain what had happened over the last twenty-four hours.
His hand curved around her throat, his thumb caressing her pulse point with lingering sweeps. “Then allow me to care for you. You need to feed tonight.” He drifted closer, pulling her to meet his lips. “Let it happen, honey. Do not fight it. I need this as much as you do,” he whispered, a sorcerer’s seduction.
His lips tangled with hers, brushing and caressing gently. He pulled on her chair until she was nestled between his muscular thighs, his hands on her waist. He kissed the corner of her mouth, sipping at her jaw. When he found her lips, his kiss was thorough, a constant, blazing heat flowing between them. Goosebumps had erupted on her skin by the time he let her go.